North Korea on Saturday accused South Korea of flying a drone into its airspace on January 4 and infringing on its sovereignty.
What did North Korea say?
The North Korean military tracked the drone "moving northwards" over South Korea's Ganghwa county, one of the closest territories to the North, Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cited a spokesman for the Korean People's Army as saying.
The drone was shot down inside the North Korean airspace near the city of Kaesong after flying for 8 kilometers, the spokesperson added.
Pyongyang alleged that the drone was equipped with surveillance cameras and had reportedly filmed "major" North Korean facilities.
The state news agency published photos of the destroyed drone and its purported surveillance footage.
How has South Korea reacted?
South Korea dismissed the North's claims, saying that it had no record of the flight.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said in a statement that the drone Pyongyang was referring to was "not a model operated by our military."
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung — who vowed reengagement with the North after taking office in June — has ordered a thorough investigation, Seoul said.
Pyongyang alleges another drone incursion
According to North Korea's military, another South Korean drone was shot down over Kaesong last September.
South Korea is already conducting a probe into alleged drone flights over the North last year.
In October 2024, North Korea had claimed that a South Korean drone reached Pyongyang.
Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol — who was in power then — over charges that he allegedly used the drone incursions as a ruse for his failed attempt to impose martial law.
Yoon is now in detention and denies the accusations.
